Green graveyard plan is buried by Council

By SIOBHÃÂN HOLLIMAN PLANS for the West of Ireland's first green graveyard have suffered a setback with a refusal of planning permission, but a fresh attempt will be made in the coming weeks to establish an eco-friendly cemetery on part of the Castlehackett House estate in Belclare. [private] Ireland's first natural graveyard opened in Wexford last October and plans for one close to the legendary burial site of Queen Maeve on Knockma were submitted at Christmas time. A natural burial ground is considerably different from traditional cemeteries. There are no large headstones or stone surrounds and graves are marked with a simple, engraved stone marker and the planting of a native Irish tree. The use of biodegradable coffins and urns such as those made from willow, reeds or cardboard are encouraged while it's preferred that embalming fluids haven't been used either. The concept of the natural cemetery is that it becomes woodland where visitors can walk along pathways surrounded by nature. However, strangely, one of Galway Co Council's reasons for turning the cemetery down is that it would interfere with the character of the landscape and detract from the visual amenity of the area. Donegal's Colin McAteer of The Green Graveyard Company, who is one of the main people behind the proposal, told The Tuam Herald that he was surprised by the refusal as he thought their application was withdrawn earlier this year. But, according to Galway Co Council, an extension of time was requested in relation to the application and when no further information was submitted during the six-month period, the council proceeded with its original recommendation of a refusal of planning permission. Colin says a new application is currently being finalised and that this addresses the Council's concerns relating to archaeology, road safety and other issues. Galway Co Council gave five reasons for turning down the Castlehackett graveyard, describing it is an undesirable form of development for the rural location. Overall, the Council considered that the graveyard would interfere with the character of the landscape, would detract from the visual amenity of the area, would establish an undesirable precedent and would depreciate the value of properties in the area. Although the majority of Co Galway's existing graveyards are located in rural areas, adjoining local country churches, the local authority says the one proposed for Castlehackett would be premature as there is a lack of appropriate infrastructure to accommodate it. The Council also says the graveyard would increase traffic on the regional road and that in the absence of a road safety audit to prove otherwise, the graveyard would create a serious traffic hazard. Colin McAteer, who also provides green, biodegradable coffins, says hundreds of people enjoy walking around the natural graveyard at Woodbrook in Co Wexford. There have been a small number of burials there, including that of sculptor Eamonn O'Doherty, best-known for the Tree of Gold outside the Central Bank in Dublin and people have reserved and bought plots, which range in price from €800 for an individual plot up to €2,900 for a four-person plot. Natural burials are becoming increasingly popular in America where there are numerous green graveyards and even existing cemeteries are beginning to set aside specific green areas because of public demand. Colin McAteer says there has been a huge interest in natural graveyards and that this has led them to plan one for the West of Ireland. A similar application is being lodged for Cork city and the company is searching for a suitable site in Dublin. [/private]